Monkey-wrench.



No. 633,578. Patented Sept. 26, I899.

R. F. DOWNEY.

MONKEY WRENCH.

(Application filed. Oct. 10, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.

Fa'rnnr Fri-c .tlCHARD F. DOWNEY, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO- THIRDS TO MATTHElVS A. BURNS AND FRANK GREGORY, OF SAME PLACE.

MONKEY-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,578, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed October 10,1898. serial No. 693,07 9. (N model.)

To (all 'HJYLOIIZ; if nu/1y 00/066770.

Be it known that I, RICHARD F. DOWNEY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Menominee, in the county of Menominee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Monkey-\Vrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in monkey-wrenches; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set .forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims; I

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the movable jaw of the wrench w ien set upon a nut or other object will be caused to grip said nut or object tightly by the operation of exerting force upon the wrench-handle to turn the nut, thereby automatically locking the movable jaw against backward movement.

A further object is to provide for releasing said movable jaw when the strainis removed from the handle of the wrench, so as to obviate the binding of the nut between the jaws of the wrench, the arrangement being such as to obviate the slipping of the wrench upon a nut, bolt-head, or other object upon which it may be placed.

These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying draw- 1 ings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a monkeywrench involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the wrenchhandle and jaw-locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the back of the wrench.

Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the fixed jaw, provided with the usual stem B, upon which the sliding jaw O is mounted in the ordinary manner. Mounted upon the rear end of the stem B of the wrench is a sliding head D, fitted to have a longitudinal movement upon said stemi E designates the ordinary screw for adjusting the movable jaw, which is threaded at one end in said jaw and at the other end is journaled, as shown at a, in the sliding head D, said screw being provided with a knurled wheel I) to facilitate manipulation thereof.

F designates the handle of the wrench, the end of which for attachment to the stemB is provided with a metallic bifurcated coupling comprising the opposed ears 0, adapted to stand astride of the rear end of said stem, to which said handle is pivoted by means of the pin 9, which passes through the opposed ears of the handle and through the rear end of said SlZQHL It'will be observed that the ears 0 of the wrench-handle are circular in form and that the pivot-pin 8 passes therethrough eccentric to the curve of said ears, thereby forming eccentrics of said ears which are adapted to lie in corresponding recesses formed in the opposed sides of the sliding head D, which recesses embrace said eccentrics in such manner as to cause the sliding head D to slide back and forth upon the stem 13 of the wrench as the handle is moved back and forth upon its pivot e.

In the operation of this device the wrench is placed upon a nut and the movable jaw O adjusted thereto through the medium of the screw E in a manner well understood in the art. The handle ofthe wrench is then grasped by the operator and sufficient strain placed thereon to turn the nut, which strain causes the handle to move upon its pivot e, and the eccentrics, acting upon the head D, to slide said head forward against the end a of the screw E, thereby moving said screw slightly forward and carrying the movable jaw 0 therewith, as clearly shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereby the movable jaw is set firmly against the face of the nut and held from slipping thereon, for the greater the strain placed upon the handle the greater will be the force exerted upon said jaw to hold it in position by the action of said eccentrics.

On referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the handle of the wrench is provided with a longitudinal recess d, in which is located a coiled spring f. Also located in said recess and resting upon said spring is a plunger g, having a beveled end portion 1, adapted to engage in a corresponding notch 0 in the extreme end of the stem B of the wrench. It will be understood that as the handle swings forward upon the pivot e the inclined notch o in the stem, acting upon the plunger g, will crowd said plunger into the recess (Z against the spring therein. Upon the release of the handle the force of said spring will drive the plunger outward against the beveled end of the stem 13 and return said handle to its normal position, which operation also releases the movable jaw O, for the reason that the recesses in the sliding head D which embrace the eccentrics of the wrench-handle cause said eccentrics to retract said head as the handle is returned to its normal position, thereby relieving all longitudinal pressure upon the screw E, preventing the binding of the nut between the jaws of the wrench, and enabling the ready removal of the nut from said jaws.

It will now be understood that the device shown and described herein is simple, inexpensive, and durable and that by its application to a wrench of this character or to a pipe-wrench the slipping of the jaws upon the object between them is prevented, as well as the wedging of said object between said jaws.

While I have shown this invention as applied to an ordinary monkey-wrench, it is obvious that it may be applied to allwrenches of like character Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will also be observed that the engagement of the plunger g in the notch 0 in the end of the stem of the wrench serves to arrest the wrench-handle when it has been returned to its normal position, preventing said handle from passing too far out of alinement with the stem of the wrench and enabling the unscrewing of a nut while the jaws are relaxed thereon.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what is claimed is 1. In a wrench, the combination with the fixed and movable jaws, the handle pivoted to the stem of the fixed jaw and having a projection eccentric to its point of pivot, a movable member on the stem of the fixed jaw means connecting said movable member to the eccentric of the handle to cause said member to move therewith, and means connecting said movable member with the movable jaw.

2. In a wrench, the combination with the fixed and movable jaws, the projecting stem of the fixed jaw having a shoulder in its rear end,the movable member on said stem, means.

of said stem to arrest said handle on its return movement.

3. In a wrench, the combination of the fixed and movable jaws, the extending stem of the fixed jaw, the sliding head on said stem, the screw screwing into the movable jaw and bearing against said head, the handle pivoted on the stem of the wrench having eccentric faces, said sliding head having recesses which receive said eccentric faces, and the longitudinally-movable spring-actuated plunger in said handle bearing against the end of the stem of the wrench.

4;. The combination of the fixed and movable jaws, the stem of the fixed jaw, the sliding head on the rear end of said stein, means connecting said sliding head with the mov-' able jaw, said sliding head having circular recesses in its opposite faces, the handle of the'wrench having opposed circular ears adapted toreceive the end of the stem be tween them, said circular ears lying in the circular recesses'of, said movable head, a pin passing eccentrically through said ears and through the stem of said wrench whereby the handle is pivoted to said stem, and means for returning said handle to its normal position when moved upon its point of pivot.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD F. DOVVNEY.

IVitnesses:

E. S. YVHEELER, M. A. MARTIN. 

